Mechanical calculator.



T..A'- MCCARTHY. MECHAINICIAL CALCULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14. 19.18.

1,276,239. Patented Aug. 20, 1918.

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

mourns ARTHUR MCCARTHY, or TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA.

MECHANICAL CALCULATOR.

Application filed June 14,1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS ARTHUR Mo- CARTHY, a citizen of the United States of America, of the city of Toronto, county of York, Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanical Calculators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in mechanical calculators, and the object of my invention is to provide a mechanical appliance as an aid in multiplying any given number by any other given number without thetransposition of figures and without having to make use of the principle of addition while actually multiplying, thus not only simplifying the multiplication of numbers by those thoroughly familiar with the multiplication table, but also providing means whereby the principle of multiplication can be very readily taught. In the following specification, and drawings forming part thereof, I shall disclose a suitable embodiment within my invention, though it must be understood that the idea as disclosed hereinafter may be embodied in many different. forms without, departing from the spirit of my invention. Though the device employed to disclose my-invention is manually operated, this is not essential.

The form in which my invention is disclosed comprises two series of rotatable elements each provided with the following nu- Y merals: 1, 2, 3, 4:, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0, with a wide blank space separating the cipher from the numeral 1, one of said series of rotatable elements being positioned above the other series. The said series of elements are movable, the one in relation to the other so that the numerals carried thereby may be made use of, as hereinafter particularly set forth.

l In making use of the device as an aid in multiplying, the required multiplicand is Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 20, 1918.

Serial No. 240,039.

plier and the second figure to the left of 7' the said figure in the multiplicand are then placed in alinement, and the second figure in the multiplier and the first figure in the multiplicand' are also placed in alinement. The product of the first pair of figures iswrit- -ten downunderneath the first product recorded, one position to the left of the left hand figure of the preceding product, and

the product of the third group of figures followsin order, or else these two products are separately recorded mechanically, as

' product one position to the right of the left hand figure of the upper row of figures, and place the figures of the following products in order until the whole operation has been completed. WVhen recording the products mechanically, it will, of course, be understood that the operator of the mechanical adding machine will properly space the machine so that'the products of the various groups of "figures multiplied will be properly positioned so that when they are added up, the correct product will be secured.

. The passing of the left hand figure of the multiplier beyond the left hand figure of the multiplicand is a signal to the operator to shift his mechanical adder, as described, or to change the position of the next row of figures in respect to the last row of figures recorded, as already set forth.

.It will, of course, be understood that the blank space between the cipher and the numeral 1 on each rotatable element will be displayed on the elements not in use.

In using my invention, it must be under stood that two character must always be put down or recorded in the adding machine so as to get the proper position for the various products resulting from the multiplication of groups'of two numerals.

Figure I is ajfront elevation of an embodiment within my invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the major portion of the frame of the device, with the front plate or coverremoved, showing a plurality of numbered disks carried by a movable member supported by said frame, means being shown whereby said movable member may be operated, certain parts being broken away to facilitate illustration. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the plurality of numbered disks shown in Fig. 2, as well as of the movable member carrying the same, part of which is shown in section, and Fig. 4 is a vertical cross section on the line 1-4=, Fig.1, on an enlarged scale.

In the drawings, like characters of reference refer to the same parts.

The device within my invention I-shall describe to disclose the same, comprises a bottom plate or member A which is suitably carried by the brackets B. A movable plate or element C operates against the plate or member A and is held in position by a retaining bar D suitably secured to said plate or member A. This retaining bar overhangs the chamfered lower edge E of the plate 0 to retain the same in position. F are a plurality of studs held in the plate C, each of which studs carries a rotatable numbered disk 'or element G. Mounted on each stud E, between the said disks and plate C, is a sleeve H which holds the said disks in proper spaced relationship in. respect of said plate. It will be observed that the edges of said disks or elements are milled and that they project below the retaining bar D so that these disks may be readily manipulated, manually or otherwise. 2 is the front plate of the device, and the same is secured to the bottom plate A by any suitable means such as the screws 3. The said plate 2 is provided with two rows of holes, an upper row, and a lower row,"an'd through these holes is to be exposed the multiplicand (through the upper row of'holes) and the multiplier (through the lower row of holesg. Rotatably mounted in the bottom plate in the same manner as are the numbered disks or elements G in the plate C, are a plurality of numbered disks or elements 4:, which project beyond the top edge of the plate 2 as shown in Fig. 1 to permit of the manipulation of these elements. Each of the said disks or elements is provided with the following numerals; 1, 2, 8, 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0, as clearly indicated in Fig. The disks or elements G carried by the plate or element C, are preferably positioned with their axes of rotation in al'inemen't, as are preferably' also the disks or elements 4 carried by the plate A. The said disks or elements in the upper and lower rows are spaced 1011-.

gitt'idinally apart so that any desired numerals carried by the said disks or rotary 'ele ments may be exposed through their associated holes formed in the plate or cover 2. In the present disclosure the plurality of disks or rotary elements are designed merely to be moved on'the'ir axes of rotation which are carried by the bottom plate or and (Z respectively.

supporting member A. The axes of rotation of the disks or elements G are carried by the movable plate or element C which is constructed to co-act with means whereby the said plate or element C can be moved so as to shift the position of the disks or rotary elements G longitudinally of the frame of the device. The preferred means for shifting the plate or element C comprises a toothed pinion 5 carried by a shaft 6 which has bearing in the plate or cover 2, and also in the plate or member A as shown at 7. The knurled head 8 is fixed to the shaft 6 and is positioned beyond the plate 2 so that it may be grasped between the finger and thumb and turned to effect the longitudinal shifting of the plate or element C, as hereinafter particularly described. c

We will suppose thatit is desired to multiply the number 58 by the number 21. The disks or rotary elements a and I), (see F ig. 1) will be manipulated to expose the numerals 5 and 8, through the holes 0 The disks or rotary elements 6 and f are turned so as to ultimately expose the numerals .2 and 1 through two of the holes in the bottom row of holes 9. The means for manipulating the plate or element C is operated in the present disclosure by a toothed pinion 5, to

move the plate or element C to the right through'the medium of its teeth i, so that the numeral 2 will be exposed through the hole 70. The operator then multiplies 8 by 2, and the product16 is either placed by hand on paper or recorded in any'suitable addingmachine. The plate or element O is then shifted to the left to expose the numeral 2 through the hole indicated in Fig. 1, and then the operator multiplies 5 by 2, recording the product 10' by hand on paper, as hereinafter graphically illustrated, or recording in any suitable adding machine. The operator will then multiply 8 by 1 and the productO8isthenpla-ced by hand on paper or recorded in any suitable adding machine. The plate or element C will then be shifted to the left to bring the numeral 1 underneath the numeral 5 in Fig. 1, when the product 05 will be placed by hand on paper or recorded in any suitable adding machine. When the record ismade by hand, 'the position 'of the various products as a result of the multiplying will be as follows:

and these products total as above disclosed. Of'course, when using a suitable adding machine, the manipulation thereof will not make aseparate'record' 'of the products of the various numbers multiplied, but .will .13

make a permanent record of the final product desired.

In recording the product of the second pair of figures multiplied, this product must be positioned one position to the left of the left hand figure of the preceding product, and the product of the third pair of figures will be placed in order. As before set forth,

when the numeral 2 of the multiplier is shifted to the left of the left hand figure of the multiplicand, this means that the product of the fourth pair of figures, viz., 1X5, will be recorded one position to the right of the left hand numeral of the next upper line of figures.

As before mentioned, in utilizing my invention, two characters must be always recorded in the mechanical adding machine in the usual way, though in making record by hand on paper this is not always essential. For example, one skilled in the use of the invention, in recording by hand the product of 58x21, according to this method, would not necessarily have to place down the cipher before the numerals 8 and 5 in the example quoted, though the use of the cipher, will necessarily always insure proper position of the accom anying numeral.

Of course, my evice may be used to multiply a multiplicand having any number of figures by a multiplier of one figure.

It will, of course, be understood that any desired number of disks or rotary elements may be employed in the two series thereof before disclosed and described.

Claims:

1. A device of the class described, comprising an upper plurality of rotary elements each provided with the following arithmetical characters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0, spaced as shown; a lower plurality of like 0 aracter-provided rotary elements; means supporting said elements in cooperative relationship, and means whereby said upper and lower plurality of rotary elements are relatively moved so as to bring into alinement the required figures of the multiplier and multiplicand, for the purpose specified. 2. A device of the class described comprisvided with the following arithmetical characters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0, spaced apart, as shown; a suitable support; means whereby each of the said elements is rotatably carried by said support; a second plurality of similar numeral-provided elements; a suitable support for said second plurality of elements; means whereby each of said elements in said second plurality is rotatably mg a first plurality of elements each procarried by said second-mentioned support,

' and means whereby the supporting means for said second plurality of elements is moved so that any given rotary element in said second plurality may be positioned to co-act with any given rotary elements in said first plurality and with the numerals of said elements arranged to visually disclose the re quired multiplicand and multiplier, for the purpose specified.

3. A device of the class described comprising an upper plurality of disks each provided with the following arithmetical char acters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0 spaced as shown; a suitable support; means whereby each of the said disks is rotatably mounted in alinement in said support; a lower plurality of disks marked as described; a movable member mounted to travel longitudinally of said suitable support; means car ried by said movable member whereby said lower plurality of disks are rotatably mounted in alinement therein, and means whereby the supporting member for said lower plurality of disks is moved longitudinally of said suitable support so that any given disk in said lower plurality may be positioned to co-act with any given rotary disk in said upper plurality and with the numerals of said disks arranged to visually disclose the required multiplicand and multiplier, for the purpose specified.

4. A device of the class described comprising an upper plurality of disks each provided with the following arithmetical characters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0 spaced as shown; a suitable support; means whereby each of the said disks is rotatably mounted in alinement in said support; a lower plurality of disks marked as described; a movable member mounted to travel longitudinally of said suitable support; means carried by said movable member whereby said lower plurality of disks are rotatably mounted in alinement therein; a cover carried by said suitable support to inclose said disks and provided with upper and lower rows of alined holes, and means whereby the supporting member for said lower plurality of disks is moved longitudinally of said suitable support so that any given disk in said lower plurality may be positioned to co-act with any given rotary disk in said upper plurality and with the numerals of said disks arranged to visually disclose the required multiplier and multiplicand through their respective holes formed in said cover, for the purpose specified.

THOMAS ARTHUR McCARTHY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0." 

